Useful properties of copper cookware. Copper utensils: harm or benefit. How to make copper cookware

Copper utensils: benefits and harm. How to care for copper cookware. Many amateur cooks dream of revealing the secrets of famous chefs. But it happens that the extraordinary taste of a prepared dish depends not so much on the correctly selected ingredients and all kinds of spices, but on useful qualities utensils used. In the kitchen of an expensive restaurant, where professionals work, and an experienced housewife will always have copper utensils. The benefits and harms it has on human health must be taken into account before purchasing these kitchen utensils. Advantages of copper cookware The most important characteristic of copper cookware is its high thermal conductivity, which is 10 times higher than that of a steel or aluminum container. This promotes uniform distribution of heat over the entire surface, which significantly speeds up the cooking process without reducing it taste qualities. It is believed that especially delicious jam or a spicy sauce is obtained if they are prepared in copper dishes. By reducing the time for heat treatment food its nutrients are preserved. Light weight and durability are also undeniable advantages that copper cookware has. The benefits and harms that copper can bring to human health deserve special attention. Useful properties of copper utensils For many centuries, people have used copper utensils. The properties, disadvantages, and how to care for pots and pans made of copper - all this has been known for a long time. One of the most important beneficial properties of copper cookware is its antibacterial effect. Copper is able to fight a number of fungi and bacteria, preventing them from getting into food. In the old days, water was stored in copper containers for the purpose of disinfection. American scientists have experimentally proven that copper successfully copes with strains of salmonella, as well as E. coli. Food that is cooked in copper utensils is disinfected, preventing the occurrence of diseases gastrointestinal tract. It is not without reason that copper has long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of many diseases: in case of intoxication of the body, convulsions, ulcers, hemorrhoids, etc. Harm from copper utensils In addition to the positive properties that copper has, scientists have also discovered a number of negative factors that can be harmful to health or negatively affect the quality of food prepared in such food dishes: Ascorbic acid, which is found in fruits and berries, is destroyed under the aggressive influence of copper. When storing food in copper containers, there is a loss of vitamins and oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can contribute to the occurrence of cancer. The damage to cookware is especially serious if it is in a humid environment. High humidity causes oxidation of copper, which manifests itself in the form of a green coating. When interacting with food acids during heating, substances that are particularly harmful to the body are produced. Therefore, when such a deposit appears on the dishes, it is necessary to carefully remove it by wiping the surface with table salt soaked in vinegar. Coating Copper Cookware With Products Having increased acidity, copper cookware interacts negatively. In order to prevent oxidation and make cooking safe, the inside of a copper container is usually coated with special alloys of tin, iron or nickel. When such a coating is worn, the dishes should be changed. When cooking in copper cookware, it is best to use a wooden spatula to avoid scratching the inside surface. Caring for copper cookware Copper cookware requires more careful care than any other cookware. It must be thoroughly polished periodically to avoid plaque, and storage conditions must be observed - such dishes do not tolerate high humidity. This is copper's number one enemy. It is not recommended to wash copper items in the dishwasher, as using strong detergents can damage them, significantly reducing their service life. For the same reason, you should not use detergents containing bleach for cleaning. For washing, you need to use a soft cloth or sponge without an abrasive layer, so as not to damage the protective layer on the inner surface.

For any housewife, good dishes are a source of special pride, because she uses them to prepare a dish for the whole family every day and create another culinary masterpiece. There is no shame in putting this on open shelves as decoration. Therefore, many have a very reverent attitude towards these household items and a careful approach to their selection. When quality is put in first place, even before purchasing, the question is studied in detail from what metal certain interior and everyday items are made and whether such utensils are harmful. There is an opinion that, for example, copper utensils are harmful to health and have little benefit. In this article we will try to understand such an important issue for the whole family.

Copper as a decorative element

Copper is a metal that has deservedly become popular. What is made from copper? It is attractive and recognizable, easy to process, which means it can be given a completely different shapes. Designers love it for this feature and actively use copper in the interior of apartments and houses:

• If your home is decorated in Loft or Retro style, copper elements will harmoniously fit into the interior. These can be like drainpipes on a rough surface, simulating brickwork, and open wiring.
• Copper lamps are used everywhere in the interior. They will look great both in the office and in the living room. A combination with soft textures, for example, with a voluminous blanket on a sofa or armchair, will add special chic.
• Whole sheets of this metal are used to decorate walls in styles such as Minimalism or Neoclassicism. With the help of a perfectly polished surface, you can get the effect of visually expanding the space, because it will reflect the sun's rays and fill the room with light.
• Copper baths and sinks are not only stylish, but also practical, since the metal is not afraid of water and does not corrode.
• IN Lately Copper furniture is coming into fashion. The chairs are suitable for a dining room or office, and a bed with a copper headboard has long been a fixture in bedrooms designed in a modern style.

Important! Copper can be of completely different shades - pink and red, yellow and orange. Due to this, decorative items and furniture can be combined with any interior. It will be very difficult to make a mistake with the color shades of your home decoration.

Using copper cookware in the kitchen is the best stylistic solution. Original pots and saucepans, giving a soft and warm shine, fit perfectly into the Country style. Provence and Rustic also succinctly and very successfully take on copper elements:

• Tan-colored dishes can be hung on brackets or placed on hooks on the wall. In this case, the stylistic effect will be much stronger.
• Copper tint can be present in the interior in the form of fittings curved into a ring or arc on the kitchen set. The warm color looks especially stylish on white facades.
• Even the countertop in the kitchen can be copper. This is a very practical solution for those who love perfect order.
• If you adore originality and love folk motifs, then a samovar that will stand in the middle of the dining table will please the eye every day and your guests will certainly appreciate it.
• The soft green color goes well with the warm shade of copper. Therefore, for bright and expressive accents, designers often use pots with indoor plants or decorate the kitchen with pots and vases.

Important! Even for the interior, it is best to purchase copper cookware from trusted manufacturers and even at a flea market. Never fall for low prices and great deals on Chinese websites. As a rule, such dishes are made not from copper, but from alloys of mysterious origin. Such copper utensils are harmful to health.

Copper utensils

Copper utensils have a very attractive appearance. It is this advantage that allows you to create a bright and beautiful accent, even a touch of elegance. This purchase is worth the money spent. Manufacturers make from copper everything that is so necessary for any housewife:

• frying pans;
• pots;
• fondue pots;
• stewpans;
• Turks;
• coffee pots;
• teapots.

Important! Many housewives still welcome dishes made from this material for making pancakes. If you often like to cook such a dish, then you will find the information from our following articles useful:

Copper and the human body

Copper is an important trace element that takes part in the functioning of the entire body:

• Scientists have calculated that any adult body contains up to 100 grams of copper. Small vibrations that occur when metal enters from the outside will not lead to catastrophic effects.
• Copper does not accumulate in the human body. It is constantly removed, its reserves need to be replenished regularly. According to various medical estimates, a person should receive up to 2 grams of this metal per day from food.

Important! Copper utensils are harmful to health in two cases. When a person abuses alcohol and when he has liver disease. This organ is responsible for filtering the blood and removing harmful substances from the human body. If it is not functioning well or is poisoned by alcohol, copper begins to accumulate in the body. And this can lead to poisoning and serious consequences.

Advantages

The use of copper utensils in everyday life has long become familiar and commonplace, because it has many advantages and useful properties:

• Copper is very sensitive to temperature. Its thermal conductivity is 2 times higher than that of aluminum and 10 times higher than that of stainless steel. It heats up quickly and cools down quickly. You can control the cooking process at every stage.
• It is simply irreplaceable for creating culinary masterpieces. Thanks to heat transfer, your dish will bake evenly and not burn.
• Cooks with extensive experience prefer copper cookware, because it produces the most delicious sweet desserts and savory sauces. It is ideal for processing sensitive products.
• Copper has antibacterial properties. Previously, this was considered a rumor, but more recently scientists have proven this fact. This metal significantly reduces the risk of spreading salmonella and E. coli microbes. This is why copper pots and pans are now superior to traditional stainless steel. Turks made from this alloy are also considered traditional and the best. And if you have one in your everyday life, then our advice will be useful to you.

Important! The metal does not exhibit any special antibacterial properties when heated. But if you consider copper as an alternative when cutting vegetables, the metal can sanitize them in the process.

Flaws

Like any coin, copper has two sides. And if we have already studied the positive, then it’s worth getting acquainted with the negative:

• This metal tends to have an aggressive effect on ascorbic acid; it simply destroys it. Therefore, you should not store fruits and berries in such containers. They lose vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty elements are oxidized. This process produces free radicals, so copper cookware can be harmful to health.
• Moisture can have a detrimental effect on metal. In a humid environment, copper oxidizes and a green coating forms on its surface. If you find it, cooking with such dishes is strictly contraindicated. When heated, plaque reacts with acids in food and promotes the production of substances harmful to the body.

Important! In most cases, to avoid direct contact, copper is coated with other metals - nickel, stainless steel, only in this case it is possible to erect a barrier and make cooking safe.

• The disadvantages of copper cookware also include its high cost. The cost of one pan can reach up to $500. It's easy to calculate how much the whole set will cost.
• The high sensitivity of copper to external factors leads to scratches appearing on the surface, and the pot or pan may become deformed. Therefore, the use of copper utensils requires careful and careful handling.

How to choose copper cookware?

Before you go shopping for copper cookware, you should know that not only its appearance and price should be attractive. There are a few more important points that will help you make the perfect purchase:

• To ensure that your pot or pan lasts as long as possible, give preference to forged or hammered products.
• Remember that copper is heavier than steel and aluminum, so dishes made from this metal a priori cannot be light. Handmade dishes, which originate from Iran or India, are considered to be of the highest quality.

When choosing copper utensils, pay attention to its internal coating:

• Nickel and steel are ideal choices for frying pans - they are better suited for frying.
• If you will only cook food, then give preference to tin. It can withstand high temperatures, but at the same time, it costs less.

Important! To determine if the tin coating has reached its end of life, apply a strong detergent to a small area of ​​the pan. If copper is visible, it means it’s time to buy new cookware.

• Egg whites become thicker when they come into contact with copper. Therefore, almost all desserts are prepared in copper dishes without coating, since sweets do not oxidize the surface, but the effect high temperatures- absent. For example, a chic Italian dessert - egg cream with sugar and wine - will not work in any other bowl except copper.
• Professional frying pans and saucepans are traditionally sold without lids. But if you need it, then for copper choose flat lids with the smallest diameter. This coating will last longer since it only occasionally comes into contact with food.

Important! Do not purchase copper cookware online or from a catalogue. The decision to purchase it must be made on the spot, at the counter, when you have the opportunity to look at it, touch it and try how comfortable it is in your hand. For some, such utensils seem too heavy and will be unusual to use. However, most cooks get used to this very quickly, and the result more than compensates for this shortcoming.

Caring for Copper Cookware

The shiny appearance of new copper cookware lasts only until the first cooking. Pots and pans used in the kitchen require constant and special care:

1. During the cooking process, you should not keep the dishes on the fire empty.
2. You should also not pour boiling water into a dry pan.
3. Food that is cooked in copper utensils can only be stirred with a special wooden spoon or a spatula, also to avoid scratches.
4. It is better to add salt only after the liquid has boiled. Experienced housewives notice that this also allows you to keep copper utensils in good condition for as long as possible.
5. Copper utensils can only be washed by hand; do not use household appliances to clean them.
6. The use of cleaning products is also not recommended. They can damage the internal coating. Replace household chemicals with special cleaners or make a homemade paste from flour and fine salt.
7. The use of hard metal scourers, brushes or nets is also prohibited. They scratch the surface, break the protective layer, and the copper enters into unwanted chemical reaction with food, dishes become harmful to health.
8. Some stains on copper cookware can be removed with freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with fine salt. Cleaning copper with tomato paste is also effective.
9. Some time after use, you can treat copper cookware with a special polishing compound that will return the original shine to your pots and pans.

Video material

Copper utensils, both centuries ago and today, are considered rare and special household items. It is inherited, and its positive properties do not diminish over the years. As soon as you start using it for cooking, you will immediately feel that the food has become tastier and more refined, and the statement that copper cookware is harmful to health is nothing more than a myth. The main thing is to remember that it requires a special careful approach. If pots and pans made of this metal have to be changed every 2-3 years, most likely their performance leaves much to be desired. Or did you initially neglect everyone useful tips and bought low-quality products.

Copper is one of the oldest metals and remains as popular for making professional cookware as it was thousands of years ago. The luxurious color of polished copper cookware can decorate any kitchen, and the thick walls of pots and pans perfectly distribute heat. The ability to distribute heat perfectly is highly valued by chefs, especially in such difficult cases as preparing sauce.

Unfortunately, it is dangerous to use copper in its pure form, since when heated it releases toxic vitriol, so any copper products, except bowls for jam, must be tinned, thus creating a safe layer between the metal and the food being prepared.

Unlike other materials used in food preparation, such as aluminum or stainless steel, copper is quite expensive, which determines its use either in professional restaurant kitchens or as decorative and serving utensils.

A copper pan is intended for cooking food that involves simmering or stewing. The advantage of such cookware is the thick walls and bottom, which prevent burning and uneven cooking of the dish.

• A wok is a deep frying pan with a concave bottom designed for quick frying, where the ability of copper to heat up quickly plays a huge role.
• - copper is used to make all its types, especially for flambé (where the appearance plays no less a role than the contents) and scampi.
• Copper pans suitable for induction hobs. A special feature of such pans is the reinforcement of the bottom with fairly thin walls. The bottom is a layered “sandwich” with layers of stainless steel.
• Sauté pans - copper utensils are indispensable when preparing complex sauces.
• Teapots and coffee pots designed for serving combine quick preparation of a drink and excellent appearance.
• Table sets decorated with special finishes: stamping, carving, embossing, filigree, engraving, niello, enamel, etc.
• Copper cezve, a cult item of all upscale coffee shops.
• The basin for making jam is the only copper product that does not require tinning, since the release of vitriol is prevented by the sugar contained in the jam in the highest concentration.

How do you decide on the choice of tableware for your establishment?

The internal surface of all products must be smooth, without any depressions or roughness, preventing the accumulation of food, since when working with copper cookware it is important to prevent food from burning.